Ryan Giggs to leave Manchester United after 29 years

Ryan Giggs is leaving Manchester United after 29 years at the club, according to the BBC.

Giggs, who made a record 963 appearances for the club, had one more year on his contract as assistant manager but new boss Jose Mourinho is expected to give that role to Rui Faria.

The Old Trafford club had hoped Giggs could be persuaded to stay on in a different role but the 42-year-old Welshman appears to have decided to move on.

Club officials have not confirmed the news yet but the BBC reports Giggs’ departure will be announced in the coming days.

The Cardiff-born Giggs has spent the last two seasons as Louis van Gaal’s assistant, having served a short stint as caretaker manager after David Moyes’ departure at the end of the 2013-14 campaign.

Prior to that, he was a fixture in United’s first team for 23 years, scoring 168 goals in all competitions and winning 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cup winner’s medals, three from the League Cup and two Champions League winner’s prizes.

But the fans’ favourite has never hidden his desire to progress as a manager and he is widely believed to have been disappointed that he was overlooked for the top job.

Having completed his coaching badges, Giggs was linked with Swansea City last season and Nottingham Forest this summer, although that post has now been filled by Frenchman Philippe Montanier.

Giggs, who played 64 times for Wales, has most recently been seen as a pundit for ITV during Euro 2016 but has given no clues as to what he will do next.

The first man to win back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards (1992 and 1993), Giggs was named PFA Player of the Year and BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2009.